Claimed by the Masked Alpha

Liora Ashwin POV

The faint click of the door echoed behind him. He was gone. His scent lingered, but peace did not come; no, my heart ached with questions. Was all this for a debt? The thought made my lips curl bitterly. Hadn’t I paid enough?

My virginity was gone.

 My fated mate.

Those I called family.

 Even my skin had suffered the blows life threw at me.

And now my innocent child was part of it.

I leaned back on the wooden bed. The room felt smaller than usual. Voices echoed from outside, free and alive, but me? I was alive, caged, with death hovering from within. Yet nothing baffled me more than the reaction of my wolf. Instead of hissing at him for claiming us and our pup as his, that bitch stayed tucked in the corner, and worse, she enjoyed his scent.

Only now did I realize that when he said he would protect me, it wasn’t from the hungry rogues scattered all over the unclaimed land or from the pack that had abandoned me, but from freedom. From leaving.

The door creaked open again, and I flinched instinctively. My body reacted before my mind could reason, but it wasn’t Kael or Yella. Two women marched in, and behind them was the healer, whom I had come to know as Helene. The other two women were unfamiliar, but one glance told me they were not ordinary. Their eyes held class, prestige, and power.

They bowed briefly, then reached for me.

“You will be moved,” one said, holding my arm and helping me up.

“Moved where?” I asked, trying to push myself upright despite the pain tearing through my skin.

“Gently,” Helene cautioned from behind.

“The Alpha’s orders,” the other answered without looking at me.

I was guided through the door, and then came the view.

The environment was magnificent. People were scattered about, going on with their daily activities. Some stopped briefly to stare before continuing on their way. The healer’s hut wasn’t in the heart of the pack. The car was parked in front. The two ladies helped me inside, and then Helene handed me some herbs with written instructions.

“Make sure to eat well,” she whispered, and the door slammed shut.

The ride was quiet. I watched the streets blur past. The pack was huge, covered in tall buildings, yet it never gave up on vegetation. Then a thought struck me, and my body went rigid.

Within all the packs, only one had such a culture. Only one Alpha was steadfast in renovating his pack while keeping vegetation intact. And that Alpha was none other than Kael Veyron, the most mysterious and feared Alpha of the realm, ruler of the Blackmoon Pack.

The thought hit me like a blow. My body weakened.

“Rylan hated him with everything,” I murmured.

And now it made sense.

Rylan had always had a soft spot for Kael, and everyone in the realm knew it. Not only did they not get along, but they also could not stand each other. No one knew what started the feud, but they were definitely enemies.

And now Kael had not only succeeded in capturing the ex of his enemy, but maybe trapping me as future leverage on Rylan was the master plan.

“Indeed.” A bitter laugh tore through me.

How could I not have seen it? No one would appear on time to save a crippled soul like me, a weak woman with nothing to offer. Who would dare go against Silver Fang by taking me in? Even after rejection and betrayal, they still had control over my life. How pathetic.

The car soon pulled over in front of a penthouse, black gates contrasting sharply with the vibrant colors of the rest of the pack. The driver did not get out. Instead, another guard opened the door from the outside.

“This is where the Alpha ordered you to stay,” he said coldly.

I glanced at the penthouse, painted black, with sections made of dark tiles. Surely, he was obsessed with darkness.

“You are not to leave without permission,” he added, then led the way.

I had no bags to carry. All I came with was myself and my child.

As I stepped inside, my breath caught, and chills ran down my spine. The place was anything but warm. Grey walls, white sofas, and a dining section of black chairs isolated at the far end, as if never used. With little decoration and minimal furniture, the living area appeared enormous.

The guard took the stairs, explaining each room as if it mattered.

We reached the third room upstairs, the one at the end, with a balcony facing the penthouse entrance and a wide view of the pack below.

“This is where you will stay.”

Unlike the other rooms, this one felt slightly warmer. A king-sized bed sat well-positioned, with two doors on the left.

“The bathroom and the wardrobe,” the guard answered, following my gaze.

“Okay,” I mumbled.

At the far corner of the room was a white sofa, the same brand as downstairs, with a black fur blanket neatly spread over it.

“You should rest,” the guard said, bowing.

“And what’s your name?” I asked as he turned to leave.

His steps halted. His body stiffened, but he turned and bowed.

“Excuse my manners, Luna. I am Soren, Alpha Lieutenant and right hand of the Alpha.”

“Hm.” I nodded, and without further words, he was gone.

His scent was that of an Alpha, but not as dominant as Kael’s.

Exhaustion tugged at me, my body begging for rest. Still, I wanted to freshen up first. Without another thought, I stepped into the bathroom.

My body stiffened. My eyes widened.

There, in the shadows, stood a man, a stunning man, with water running down his back, tracing every line down to the crack of his hips. I staggered backward, my hand still on the doorknob. My heart erupted in my chest.

Though the water was cold, my breath caught. I swallowed hard, but my eyes refused to peel away. My legs wouldn’t move.

He calmly turned off the tap and reached for a towel. Then he turned.

His mask was still on, even while he showered.

“Done staring?” he hissed.

I snapped out of my trance.

“I, I, ” I stammered, unable to find my words.

“No need to be shy. You’ll see this very often. As my wife, it’s your right.”

“No, I, I didn’t mean to… how are you even in here?”

“It is our room,” he replied coolly. “Or did you think you would sleep away from me?”

The way he said it made my body shiver. Cold sweat slid down my spine.

“Liora Ashwin,” he murmured, saying my name as he owned it.

He stepped closer. I stepped back until my spine hit the door. Trapped between him and the wood, with barely any space left, his presence overwhelmed me.

His abs glistened as water droplets traced his chest. Unintentionally, I licked my lips.

“Like what you see?” he murmured, and my soul nearly jumped out of my skin.

“You’re dripping… I can smell you,” he whispered closer.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Maybe it was the herbs. Maybe the pregnancy. But something was making me melt faster than ice under heat.

“I said I would mark you,” he added.

Arousal turned to panic.

“You can’t.”

His lips hovered near my neck. My heart erupted in my chest as his voice dropped into a dangerous temptation.

“I can,” he murmured. “And once I do, every Alpha in this realm will know exactly what touching you costs.”

My body shuddered. My hands pressed against his bare chest, trying to push him away, but he didn’t move. One hand settled on my waist, the other on my shoulder.

Then, 

Without warning, sharp pain surged through my neck.

My knees buckled. My vision blurred. Warm blood spilled down my chest. Time froze as my mouth opened, yet no sound came out. My grip tightened on his skin, but strength had already left my body.

And then, 

Darkness swallowed me whole.

Not without reminding me that I now belonged to another.